Honda released photos of its all-new 2015 HR-V crossover SUV in New York on Thursday. The HR-V is expected to go on sale in the U.S. this winter.
Well, that didn't work out the way I expected.
I arrived at a Honda (HMC -2.21%) event in New York on Thursday with hundreds of other journalists, expecting the company to show off an all-new small crossover SUV based on its brand-new 2015 Fit subcompact.
But that's not what happened. Instead, Honda gave us photos of the new SUV -- and then gave a lengthy demonstration of the latest version of its ASIMO humanoid robot.
It was a strange move. But here's what I can tell you about the new HR-V.
Here's what we know for sure. It isn't much.
I should start by saying that Honda told us almost nothing about the HR-V on Thursday. Officially, here's what we know.
The new Honda HR-V is clearly intended to be the smaller sibling of the company's very successful CR-V crossover. Just as the CR-V shares a platform with the Honda Civic, the HR-V will share a platform with the one-size-down Fit.
Another view of the 2015 Honda HR-V. Photo credit: Honda.
Like the U.S. version of the Fit, the HR-V will be built in a brand-new Honda factory in Celaya, Mexico. It's expected to go on sale this winter.
That's about it for official news.
But we do know a little more about the HR-V -- or at least, about its twin sibling.
The HR-V's Japanese sibling is already on sale
Last November, I told you about the all-new Honda Vezel, a small crossover SUV intended for the Japanese market. The Vezel was unveiled at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, and has since gone on sale in Japan.
Here's a photo of the Vezel. As you can see, it's the HR-V with a different name. While we can't assume that the HR-V will have the exact same options and features as the Vezel, we can look at what's offered on the Vezel and make some assumptions.
The Fit-based Honda Vezel crossover SUV went on sale in Japan last winter. Photo credit: Honda
In Japan, the Vezel is offered with two different powertrains: A 1.5-liter direct-injected VTEC four-cylinder, and a hybrid system that uses that same 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor.
In the U.S., the all-new Fit is being offered with that same 1.5-liter engine, but the hybrid isn't available here. It's a pretty good bet that they'll follow the same pattern with the HR-V.
In other words, you'll be able to have any engine you want in your new HR-V, as long as it's that same 1.5-liter four.
More details on the HR-V's sibling
Honda didn't release any photos of the HR-V's interior. But again, we've seen the Vezel, so we can make some guesses.
When it unveiled the Vezel in Tokyo, Honda said the interior's design "creates a coupe-like, high-quality personal space for the front seats and minivan-like elbowroom, comfort, and functionality for the rear seats."
The interior of the HR-V should closely resemble that of the Japan-market Honda Vezel, shown here. Photo credit: Honda.
We also know something about the HR-V competition -- namely, that the once-sparse field of small crossover SUVs is starting to get crowded.
The Nissan (NSANY -1.27%) Juke, the Mazda CX-5, the Subaru XV Crosstrek, and the Buick Encore have been on sale for a while, but soon they'll be joined by the HR-V as well as the Chevy Trax and Jeep Renegade, both of which were shown in New York this week.
Other entries may be on the way. Ford (F 0.69%) has a well-regarded small crossover called the EcoSport, which it sells in many parts of the world -- but not the United States. Ford won't say whether they plan to bring it to the U.S., but it's clear that they're keeping a close eye on this market segment.
The upshot: A promising entry in an increasingly crowded field
Not long ago, Honda seemed out of its element with truck-like products -- but the success of the latest CR-V has shown that the company has mastered the smallish-crossover segment.
The CR-V's success suggests that the HR-V has a good chance to do well. But this once-quiet market segment is suddenly getting quite noisy, and Honda will have its work cut out for it.
